Speedway team adds former world champion to line-up for 2019 season

The final piece of the 20th anniversary season of the Highbridge-based speedway side Somerset Revels has fallen into place with the return of a former club favourite and the signing of a world champion.

After four seasons away from the Oaktree, Australian Todd Kurtz rejoins the Rebels following spells with Plymouth and Sheffield, attaining a 5.91 average with the latter.

Kurtz made 48 match appearances for the Rebels back in 2014, scoring 316 points and 54 bonuses.

“It has been a while since I have ridden for Somerset but it is a place I am quite familiar with and really enjoy coming to,” he says.

“We all know that ‘Gazza’ won’t settle for anything less than trophies at the end of the season and I am determined to try and do my bit to deliver. Gazza has put a strong side together and it is down to us now. I am really looking forward to the challenge.”

The 2018 World Team Long Track Champion Dimitri Berge has also been confirmed as the starter for the Rebels’ 2019 campaign.

As well as holding that world champion tag, Berge, 22, was also crowned European Grass Track Champion last season.

The French man joins the Rebels after a second spell with Redcar and will line-up alongside one of the riders he beat in to the gold in that Long Track success, Chris Harris.

Confirming the inclusion of Berge in the side, manager Garry May revealed: “I have been tracking Dimitri for some time now.”

“He is a rider that has impressed me and I firmly believe that he will quickly settle in to the side, especially at the Oaktree as it is the sort of track that will bring the best out of him. “

“I think, in truth, he may need to work on his away game but I remain certain that he has the ability to up his 5.03 average.”

Confirmation of Todd as a starter completes the Rebels line up that will feature Rory Schlein, Chris Harris, Nico Covatti, Todd Kurtz, Dimitri Berge, Anders Rowe and Henry Atkins.

The Somerset Rebels compete in the SGB Championship the second tier of British speedway’s three tier set up, and race from March to October at the Oak Tree Arena, Bristol Road, Edithmead, near Highbridge.

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